Nikola Ilic
About Nikola Ilic
Nikola Ilic serves as the Interim European Program Lead at the Obama Foundation and is the Co-Founder and CEO of ChangeLab Global. With a background in leadership development and international consulting, he has held various roles in organizations focused on social change and education.
Current Role at Obama Foundation
Nikola Ilic serves as the Interim European Program Lead at the Obama Foundation, a position he has held since 2022. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing and implementing initiatives that align with the foundation's mission to inspire and empower individuals to create positive change in their communities. His leadership contributes to the foundation's efforts in promoting civic engagement and leadership development across Europe.
Experience in Leadership Development
Nikola Ilic is the Co-Founder and CEO of ChangeLab Global, a position he has held since 2020. He is also the Leadership Development Program Co-Lead at Volt Europa, where he has been active since 2019. His work focuses on democratizing access to high-quality leadership development, aiming to provide opportunities similar to those offered at prestigious institutions like Harvard. Additionally, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, where he teaches leadership principles.
Previous Work Experience
Prior to his current roles, Nikola Ilic held various positions that contributed to his expertise in leadership and development. He worked as the Executive Outreach Department Chief for Corporate Social Responsibility at Delta Holding in Serbia from 2007 to 2009. He also served as an International Development Consultant at the World Bank Group from 2017 to 2018. His experience includes teaching fellowships at Harvard Kennedy School, where he focused on financial management for the public sector and organizing for change.
Educational Background
Nikola Ilic has a diverse educational background that supports his professional endeavors. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Leadership & Social Development at Harvard Kennedy School, which he began in 2016. He also holds an Executive Leadership Coaching Certification from Georgetown University, obtained in 2021. Additionally, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on communications, marketing, and consumer behavior from Hult International Business School.
Advocacy and Community Engagement
Nikola Ilic is deeply engaged in advocacy and community organizing. He co-founded Srbija u Pokretu (Serbia on the Move) in 2009, where he has served as a Steering Committee Member. His commitment to empowering citizens and promoting responsible leadership stems from his experiences with societal collapse and his involvement in the Otpor resistance movement against dictatorship in Yugoslavia. He explores innovative methods to enhance community engagement and leadership development.